Percussion-type instrument



o. H. LIEBICH PERcussIoN TYPE INSTRUMENT Filed sept. 10, 1928 i 2 sheets-sneer `1 ELE-Jl@ Aug. l2, 1930.

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PERGUS S ION TYPE INSTRUVKVENT Filed Sept. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. l2, 1930 'fi @EN @HQE OTTO H. LIEBICI-I, OF CHECAGQ ILLINQIS Application filed September h3'.

In percussion musical instruments for use in combination with organ installations and the like, difficulty has been encountered due to the fact that the resonators or tone in- 5 tensiliers particularly 'for the low notes were articularly long and projected out of the ottom of the sound box of the instrument thereby requiring an extremely large amount of yspace to properly mountthe percussion instrument in an organ or any other place Where space is at a premium. Trouble has also been encountered in percussion instruments due to the mode of mounting or securing the resonators in the sound boi: without adequate facilities for preventing leakage of air.

This invention rel ates to an improved type of percussion musical instrument adapted for use in organ installations and the like, and

constructed with the resonators for the low notes divided into sections projecting in opposite directions from the sound box and parallel to the sounding bars to reduce air friction to cause intensification of the tones.

It is an object of this invention to provide a percussion type musical instrument wherein the use of long resonators is eliminated by the use of sectional resonators projecting in opposite directions from the sound box to permit the instrument to be conveniently mounted in a shallow compartment with both the resonators and the sound bars disposed in a perpendicular position.

It is also an obj ect ot this invention to provide a percussion type musical instrmneut having resonators inserted into grooved openings in the sound box through felt busliings and through washer plates of insu1 ati ug material whereby an airtight or non-lea ing joint is provided between the resonators and the sound box to securely hold the resonators in a suitable position.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved percussion type musical instrument wherein the sound box is arranged to receive the resonators constructed in sections with said sections projecting in opposite directions from ,lie sound bof; and parallel to a. sound bar with the inner ends of said resonator sections projecting through 1"" I'QHLER-LEIEBCH COW QF son on ni. .rRUMn-ufr cca-:es

felt bushings and through sound insulatingwasher plates u" i are adjustablv mounted on the exterior c `ie sound box bt* Inca-ns of screws or the like to permit compression of the felt bushing to insure an` airtight fit around the seainiess resonators to securely heid the same in a itable position.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be an arent from the disclosures in the specifica on and the accom-vv panying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in tbe drawings and hereinaftery more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a Yiront elevation ot an organ casing or the like7 having a plurality of pelicussion musical instruments of different types embodying the principles of this invention mounted therein with the resonators.. and sound bars disposed vertically.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the middle percussion instrument on line II-ll of Figure l.

Figure is an enlarged longitudinaly sece) tion of the upper instrument taken on` line III-III of Figure l.

Figure 4C is a vertical side View taken onl line IV-IV of Figure l, showing the ends ot the various instruments mounted Within the casing.

Figure 5 is an enlarged tragruen-tary detail section taken on line iT-V of Figure l, illustrating the method of mounting the resonator sections in the sound box.

Figure 6 is an eniarged fragmentary detail section taken on line VIMVI of Figure l, illustrating the method of mounting one of the shorter resonators in a sound box.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line "a MVH of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of theupper instrument taken on line VIII- VIII ot Figure 3 with the resonators shown in elevation.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral l indicates a shallow case or boi; wi may form a portion; of an organ and which serves a support within which a plurality of improved percussion type musical instruments may be supported in parallel horizontal relation, thereby requiring a comparatively small amount ot' tloor space. As illustrated in Figure l, three different types ot percussion instruments are illustrated.

The middle or intermediate percussion instrument will now be described in detail. lThis instrument comprises a sound box or sound reflecting memberI constructed ot wood or other suitable material, said box comprising a back wall Q and a front wall 3 which is supported opposite the back wall 2 by means of a top wall l and a bottom wall 5. The ends ot the sound box are closed by end walls 6. The sound box is divided into a plurality ot chambers 7 (Figure 2) formed by a pluralityT of partitions 8 disposed parallel to one another transversely of the sound box. The iront wall 3 of the sound box is provided with a row ot' apertures or openings 9, one for each of the tone chambers 7.

Secured at spaced intervals on the front wall 3 of the sound box are a plurality of screw eyes l() and l1, respectively. Threaded through the upper screw eyes i0 a single heavy silken cord 1Q, and threaded through the lower screw eyes ll are two silken cords 13. The ends of the cords l2 and 123 are secured to tno end screw eyes. The silken cords l2 and 13 are provided tor the purpose of' supportino` plurality of metal or wooden tone bars l-lwhich are graduated in length in the arrangement illustrated in Figure l to produce the required notes oi a musical scale when the sound bars are struck to vibrate thc same.

Each ot the tone bars lst has inserted through an aperture near the upper end thereot a retaining screw l5 each of which projects through a rubber insulating sleeve 1G and through a. suitable Jfelt washer l? engaged on the outer end of each screw between the tone bar and the head ot thn screw (Figure G). The apertured ends of the tone bars lst rest on Lhe cord l2, while the lower or opposite ends oit' the tone bars are disposed between the double cords i3. Each of the tone bars or sound members lst is mounted to permit free vibration thereof in response to a blow imparted thereto to give forth the desired tone. The tone bars are mounted so that each bar is disposed in trout ot a sound box opening 9 each communicating with the sound chamber T for that particular tout` bar. rlhe tone bars lelare arranged with adjacenttone bars four semitones epart thereby aii'iording an arrangement which eliminates the disagreeable tone interference perceptible in pere ion instruments wherein the bars are not mounted by this method. By suspending the tone bars on the single contact points properly insulated at their nodal line insures unhindered and perfect vibrations ot the bars.

rial. 'e top and bottom walls #l and o .i box over each a washer ll gi aterial .such ot the washers ig oit a diameter ner groove l5) ot ially equal with felt bushing Q2. mounted in por, i n

ot the openii t constructed ot as liber or haT corresponding v the openhigl lf3 and subs the inner diameter of Each ot the vushers 'i by means ot a plurt` v ot .screws 2st which may be aoiustably f o position to hold the respective l @31net. the teltbushii c lsaz'nein pas] tion. Each or i gradually compre i e to time by simply tighteni,1 g the fws 2l until the washers come directly into contact i, :th the walls ot the sound box upon which their arc mounted. u

may thus be Engaged through each or lthe washers and projecting through the i ne 'i g and snugly into the groove i9, i, ie iure! end ot a resonator or tone intcusitvi n' tube prei"- erably constructed ot s t A' ot brass, fiber, nickel or wood. The resoiiator tubes which are closed at the outer ends mar be cylindrical, square, oc )enel or of ani.' preferred shape desired. i'

The particular mode ot insertion ot the resonators Q5 affords a tight tit tor the resonators obviating the leakage ot air from the sound box betweer the ref-onato.Y` and the sound box openings in which tlev are engaged. I

The middle percussion instrument is arranged with the re. nators parallel to the tone bars A, thereby ador fr an instrument which requires a small am it ot space when installed in an organ or any place whore the space is at a premium. ln this torm ot nercussion instrumcT the tone bars are' arranged in two gro s, The tone bars for the first group ar mounted on the lett hall of the sound boi-. loolrino; at Figure l` and comprise the tones C, ll). if i ,I .i D. The second group o tone 'bals are mounted on the right halt of the sound box looking at Figure l, and comprise the tones it, F', il, B, G and The tone bars tor each group are ari th the are t hars` near the ends and i i-h t ie other bai". in Ql'aduatcd relation irwardlv t center from both ends ot 'the gr .p portant feature ot the novel arrangement ot the tone bais oit each groin.) lies Iii the 'tact that the tones of adjacent tone lia i irc tour semitones apart which allows increased vollid Lme'roi 3 ment withv one another and are associated with and parallel to a particular tone bar as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The use of the sectional resonators replaces the single long resonators heretofore used and",

I furthermore, reduces the friction 'of the air over thatl encountered inv long resonators so that in the present method the use of thev sectional resonators reduces the friction of the air traveling in the resonators and thereby greatlljr intensifies the tones produced. Associated with the tone bars G# and A# of the first group and A and B of the second group, are single or onel piece resonators which project upwardly from the top sound l box: wall 4. There areno openings in the bottom sound box wall 5 associated with the tone bars Git, A JHE, and A and B. It will thus be noted that the lower tones of each group of tone bars have sectional resonators associated therewith, while the higher tones only have unitary resonators associated therewith which are graduated in length depending upon the tones.

By providing a percussion instrument with sectional resonators where needed parallel to their respective tone bars, an instrument is provided which may be mounted in a coinparatively shallow recess or box which is highly desirablev in organs and similar instruments where the floor space is extremely limited.

The upper and lower percussion type musical instruments illustrated in Figure 1 are constructed similar to the middle percussion instrument and the resonator tubes for the lower notes of said instruments are mounted in the tone box similar to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The shorter or high pitched tone bars of the lower and upper instruments are mounted above openings in the sound box front board, and said openings have associated therewith short resonator cylinders of different lengths depending upon the respective lengths or size of the tone bars with which they are associated. The end tone bars of these instruments have sound compartments associated therewith with the compartments for the lower notes having resonator tubes projecting therefrom. The upper The mode of suspension of the tone` and lower percussion instruments illustrated in Figure 1 and the detailed showing of the upper instrument as illustrated in Figures 3 and 8 are not described in detail since an adequate detailed description has already been given in connection with the middlei instrument which covers all of the patentable features of the present invention. While cmbracing the improved mounting for the resonator tubes they do not embrace the use of sectional resonators. The showing of the three types of percussion instruments is used to illustrate the possible combination of percussion instruments of this type for use in organs and similar instruments.

I am aware that many c. anges may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without' departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claimk as my invention:

1. A percussion musical instrument comprising a sound box, grooved openings therein, flexible bushings seated in the grooves of. said openings, washers secured to said sound box to hold said bushings in place, resonators projecting through said washers and through said bushings and seated in said openings, and tone bars supported on saidJ sound box' above the openings therein.

2. In a percussion musical instrument of, the class described, thev combination with a sound boX, ofv sectional resonators supported therein with the sections of each resonator connected by an enlarged chamber in said sound box.

3. In a percussion musical instrument of the class described,- the combination with a sound. box, of sectional resonators supported therein. with the sections of each resonator projecting in opposite directions from the, sound box.

4:. In a percussion musical instrument of the class described, the combination withA a sound box, of tone bars supported thereon, and sectional resonators projecting from the soundy box and. parallel with said sound bars, with the sections of each resonator projecting in opposite directions from the sound box and axially aligned with one another.

5. In a musical percussion instrument of the class described, the combination with a sound box having a grooved opening therein to afford a. stop flange, of ay resonator tube projecting into said opening with one end of said tube seated on sai d stop iange, a. bushing seated in said grooved opening and. engaged around said resonator, a perforated' washer through which said resonator projects, and means for adj ustably securingsaid washer to the sounding box to compress saidr bushing to securely hold the resonator in position.

6. In a percussion musical instrument of the class described, the combination with a sound box having a grooved opening therein, of a bushing seated in said opening, a resonator projecting through said bushing and into said opening, and a Washer secured to sail sound box around said resonator to hold the bushing compressed.

'l'. In a musical percussion instrument of the class described, the combination With a sound box Wall having a grooved opening therein to afford a stop flange, of a resonator tube projecting into said opening and seated againstthe stop flange, a bushing of flexible material engaged around sai-d resonator and seated in a groove ot said opening, and an insulating Washer on said sound box to hold the bushing in place and afford a support for said resonator.

S. A percussion musical instrument comprising a sound box having tone bars arranged thereon to give a succession ot major thirds With adjacent tone bars four semitones apart, and sectional resonators positioned parallel to the tone bars With the sections of each resonator projecting` in oppo site directions from said sound box.

9. A percussion musical instrument comprising a sound box having ton-e bars mounted thereon and arranged in the order shown and described to give a succession of major thirds with adjacent tone bars tour semi tones apart, and resonators mounted on said sound box parallel to the tone bars With the resonators for the low tones constructed in sections projecting from the sound box in opposite directions. I

l0. A percussion musical instrument comprising a sound box, tone bars mounted thereon arranged in groups With each group arranged so that adjacent tone bars are four semitones apart, and resonators projecting from the sound box and parallel With said tone bars, said resonators being of unitary and sectional construction with the unitary resonators associated With the high pitched tone bars and With the sectional resonators associated with the loiver pitched tone bars with the sections of each resonator projecting in opposite directions from the sound box.

ll. A percussion musical instrument comprising a sound box having openings therein, partitions in said sound box to divide the same into compartments, one associated with each o1c said openings, tone bars supported on said sound box above the openings, and sectional resonators projecting from the sound box and communicating With said compartments, said resonators having the sections thereof projecting in opposite directions from the sound box and parallel to the respective tone bars.

12. In a musical instrument of the class described, a. sound box having a grooved opening therein, a telt bushing seated in said grooved opening, a resonator projecting through said felt bushing and into said opening, and a Washer secured on said sound box for compressing the bushing to form an airtight joint aroimd said resonator,

13. In a percussion musical instrument, the combination With a sound box and the tone bars thereof, of sectional resonators supported on the sound box with the resonators constructed of short sections projecting in opposite directions to reduce the air friction to intensify the tones.

14. A percussion musical instrument comprising a sound box adapted to be mounted in a horizontal position upon a vertical support, screiv eyes secured in the front :tace of the sound box, cords threaded through said screw eyes, tone bars supported upon said cords, screw members engaged through apertures in said tone bars and secured in the front Wall ot said sound box to reta-in the tone bars from displacement on said cords, and tubular resonators projecting upwardly and downwardly from the top and bottom Walls of said sound box and parallel to said tone bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

OTTO H. LIEBICH.

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